Moving back into cruising mode
01 October 2012 | Charlottetown PEI
Sunny, Daytime high 22C, Nightime low 16C, wind SE-SW@12-22 kts
Land Cruising in the 560SL
Well, our sojurn from cruising has been longer than normal, but time has flown by, as usual.
We left Estelle in Shelter Bay Marina, Panama in late February with a dead engine. The new engine arrived after not just a bit of work arranging the shipping, in late June. After that the installation proceeded at what an only be described as "a stately pace". In early August all was reported complete, save one extra part required. Repeated calls through the summer elicited the same reply..."no part yet". Two weeks ago, I decided to find the part myself and had a 24 hour delivery set up, only to finally hear that it had arrived in Panama.
So it seems that we will be ready to go when we arrive back in late October. Other improvements (I hope) include a new 4-blade Variprop, new jib sheets (to replace the ones destroyed in a squall in Green Turtle Marina), and assorted other bits will ensure a nice hefty baggage fee on the airlines.
So we are now into list-making mode. Plans are to arrive back in Shelter Bay, stay in their hotel for a few nights while preparing Estelle for launch, then the big splash! New bottom paint, new engine and new propeller!!! We're agog in anticipation!
Then a few days testing the engine, provisioning, and we're off gain. The primary objective is the San Blas, with Cartagena for Christmas. But that is, as usual, weather dependent.
Summer was excellent here on PEI. We spent many of the beautiful sunny days touring the small fishing ports of the island, inquiring at each about the approach depths. We would like to do a circumnavigation some time, but it has not been done by many sail boats. Many ports are reputed to have insufficient water for sailboats. But in most, our inquiries met with positive responses about depths.
Maybe next summer, if we make it back here. If not, the following one for sure... and Newfoundland and Laborador next!